‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’ and Technomad

Donated system plays role in Hughes family storyline for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

On November 7, Patricia and Patrick John Hughes family of Louisville, Kentucky, received word that Ty Pennington and the Extreme Makeover team would renovate their house into a safer and more accessible home for their blind disabled son, Patrick Henry, age 19. The storyline also includes the renovation of a practice field where Patrick marches in the University of Louisville School of Music Marching and Pep Band, maneuvering his wheelchair through the formations with assistance from his father. Technomad Associates, a manufacturer of weatherproof outdoor loudspeakers and PA systems, did the installation of a Turnkey PA System at the University. On November 13, the renovated field was revealed to the Hughes family.

Technomad delivered the system for installation by Super Home Systems of Louisville in the week following the Hughes family receiving the news. According to Phil Deddens, President of Super Home Systems, the system was easily set up in one day, requiring only simple cable runs and electrical connections. The University of Louisville’s practice field is the size and shape of a football field. Deddens and his team installed the Two Technomad Noho C loudspeakers on a new light pole at the 50 yard line, each at opposite 45 degree angles to optimize audio coverage on the field.

The Technomad Noho C loudspeakers are installed nearby the tower where the band director gives his commands, allowing his voice to project out onto the practice field and reach the 220-plus members as they are playing and practicing their formations. The PA rack, featuring an amplifier and six-channel mixer, is housed in this tower, close enough to allow a 20-foot microphone cable to easily reach the mixer input. The Turnkey PA system includes a microphone for the band director, loudspeakers brackets, and cables to connect all the components.

In addition to the PA system installation, the field renovations included six new 50-foot light poles, two storage buildings, a covered pavilion for viewing band practices, and a new archway at the entrance that includes the words “Inspired by Patrick Henry Hughes.” Super Home Systems was also involved in the home renovations, including a new stereo system, surround sound, phone, and TV writing, and security system installation.

This article originally appeared in the March 2008 edition of Entertainment Engineering